*******************************************************
The Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights has agreed to step up co-operation to raise the intellectual property (IP) awareness level of the public and enterprises in both places.
The decision was made today (July 18) at the group's seventh meeting held in Hong Kong.
At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the latest IP developments in the two places and concluded that many IP co-operation items had been successfully completed. These included an IP seminar in Shantou, joint production of an Announcement in the Public Interest (API) on "No Fakes Pledge" Scheme, "Intellectual Capital Management" seminars in both places, roundtable discussion for IP Agents in Guangdong and Hong Kong as well as setting up of the Guangdong/Hong Kong IP Co-operation column in the official websites of both sides. The two sides also organised an exchange programme for tertiary institutions and science and technological institutes. A detailed report has been posted on the website of the Intellectual Property Department. Law enforcement authorities in both places have been working closely to strengthen the co-ordination mechanism for cross-boundary IP-related cases.
The group also discussed projects for the second half of the year, including enhancing exploitation and management of IP by enterprises in both places and an exchange programme on the flow of business for IP professionals. Further "Guangdong/Hong Kong Seminars on Intellectual Property and the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises" will be organised in Guangdong Province.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Stephen Selby, said that raising public awareness about protecting IP was one of the important goals of co-operation between the two sides. The IP authorities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly established the "Intellectual Property Database for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao" in late 2003. The database enables the public to obtain the latest information on IP in the three regions. This one-stop database is also a handy tool for the international business community. For this reason, the IP authorities in the three regions plan to produce an IP booklet to enable the public and enterprises to obtain IP information in the three regions with a view to attracting further investment.
Mr Selby thanked the IP professionals in both places for their support for the co-operation activities in Guangdong and Hong Kong. He said IP professionals had played an important role in IP protection. Both sides plan to organise exchange activities on the flow of business for IP intermediaries of the two places to enhance the standards of IP professional services of the two places.
The leader of the Guangdong delegation, the Director of Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Ms Tao Kaiyuan, said "This is my first Expert Group Meeting since I assumed office. I am deeply impressed by the depth and breadth of the co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. This meeting has been very fruitful in building co-operation of both sides and we have agreed to deepen and perfect our co-operation. We also plan to invite officials from the State Intellectual Property Office to join some representative events to share the success of co-operation between the two places."
The Expert Group, set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation Joint Conference in August 2003, is aimed at enhancing exchanges and co-operation on various aspects of IP, including promotion and education, training, enforcement and information dissemination. The Guangdong delegation is led by the Director of Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Ms Tao Kaiyuan, and comprises officials from the Public Security Bureau, the Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation Department, the Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Copyright Bureau, the Guangdong Customs and Hongkong and Macao Affairs Office of Guangdong Province. The Hong Kong delegation is headed by Mr Selby, and comprises officials from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Customs and Excise Department.
A summary of the co-operation items is posted on the website of Intellectual Property Department at www.ipd.gov.hk .
Ends/Friday, July 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:00
NNNN
